EPACRis. 257 



silver sand, and it is of great importanfce that the plants 

 should be firmly potted. Some grow this plant upon a bal- 

 loon-sbaped trellis, in which manner the flowers are brought 

 all to one level, but when grown as a compact bush it has by 

 far the best appearance, though it takes a much longer time 

 to make a specimen, as it requires more frequent stopping. 

 It is an elegant plant, and should be more generally grown. 



This plant may be increased by cuttings of young shoots 

 inserted in sand under a bell-glass, but they require careful 

 watering, and the glass should be frequently wiped to remove 

 damp. 



D. gracile. — The cauline leaves of this species are lanceo- 

 late-subulate, fringed at the margins with long hairs and 

 recurved. The flowers are freely produced in capitate spikes, 

 and are of a pure white colour. It blooms during April, May, 

 and June, and is a splendid exhibition plant. Native of New 

 Holland. 



Epaceis. 



This genus gives its name to a small order of plants 

 {Epacridacea) consisting of elegant and highly ornamental 

 shrubs, bearing harsh, dryish, prickly foliage, and handsome 

 tubular flowers. The species are all natives of New Holland 

 ■ — indeed the order is almost exclusively Australian. The 

 flowers are axillary, and generally pendulous, and are so freelj' 

 produced along the thickly leafy branches, that they have the 

 appearance of long leafy spikes, in which the blossoms lean 

 all one way ; there are, however, some few exceptions to the 

 manner of their disposal. The soil best adapted for these 

 plants is good fibrous peat, with a liberal addition of silver 

 sand. After the flowers have faded, the erect-growing kinds 

 should be cut back nearly to the old wood, and placed in a 

 rather close frame to induce them to break ; and when the 



